Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lord Skelmersdale Excerpts

Monday 8th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Baroness has put her finger on it. On a precautionary basis, even though the risk is considered low to those with CFS/ME when they are without symptoms, it was considered appropriate to exclude them permanently from being blood donors in case it affected their own health.

[Lord Skelmersdale]

My Lords, my noble friend gave us the figure for total research into CFS/ME. How much was for biological research as opposed to psychiatric research?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I am afraid I cannot give that figure as it is not in my brief, but I will write to my noble friend.

Health: Government Spending

Lord Skelmersdale Excerpts

Monday 14th June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Skelmersdale]

My Lords, can the Minister give us the assurance that it is functions that matter at the expense of individual bodies, which may of course overlap?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. He is right to suggest that we should look not at each body individually but perhaps at several across the piece to see whether there is scope for rationalisation in a way that does not detract from the quality of service.